title: Enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase and zincemia in women with preeclampsia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Preeclampsia is a complex syndrome of unknown aetiologic origin. It is characterized by the clinical triad of hypertension, edema and protenuria. Current concepts of the genesis of preeclampsia include endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed the relationship between the activity of superoxide dismutase, the zincemia and the preeclampsia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study was carried out with 94 women, age between 17 and 44 years, which were divided in two groups: women with preeclampsia (n = 44) and control group women with normal pregnancy (n = 50). The activity of superoxide dismutase enzyme was determined according to Ransod kit. Zinc concentrations in plasma and erythrocytes were determined using the flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry technique, both determined before delivery and during puerperium. Student's t-test and the paired t-test were used for statistical analysis, and significance was established at p < 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study revealed plasma hypozincemia more pronounced in women with severe preeclampsia (p < 0.05). This behavior was not observed in erythrocytes, whose concentrations remained stable, before delivery and puerperium in women with preeclampsia and normal pregnancy. The antioxidant activity of the enzyme superoxide dismutase was found elevated in women with and without preeclampsia (p>0.05), with significant reduction in activity in the postpartum period (p < 0.05) in both groups studied (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows there are alterations in biochemical parameters of zinc in women with preeclampsia. The activity of superoxide dismutase shows that this marker cannot be used to predict the evolution of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mother and Child, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina-Piauí, Brazil.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Araújo Brito
authors.forename: Dilina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: do Nascimento Marreiro
authors.forename: José Machado
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Moita Neto
authors.forename: Danilla
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Michelle Costa e Silva
authors.forename: Kaluce
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gonçalves de Sousa Almondes
authors.forename: João de Deus
authors.initials: Jde D
authors.lastname: Valadares Neto
authors.forename: Nadir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: do Nascimento Nogueira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D015032:Zinc